Trying to find aftermarket parts like springs and an adjustable vacuum advance for a '83 Civic. Anyone done a complete recurve?

 

Yes, I have. It is a VERY worthwhile modification.

There is no "kit," you will have to scrounge the parts yourself. Go to a really good hardware store and ask for help with finding tiny springs. They will direct you to a chest full of drawers full of all sorts of hardware bits and pieces. There will be at least one drawer devoted to springs.

You will want a very small spring. It is probably best if you remove the two springs in the bottom of your distributor to give you a relative size. Do not worry that the replacement springs are not "heavy duty," I have been using the hardware store springs in my D15A3 for years without any troubles.

Re-assemeble the distributor with the new springs and you are good to go. The vacuum advance is not much of a factor in the ignition, the lighter springs are the most important factor in incresing advance more quickly and yielding better performance.

Scott

 

Is this for the 2gen models?

Is there a slightly more comprehensive, idiot-proof guide somewhere?

 

How tough is it? You dig out the old springs and put in new ones.

 

So that's it. Replace the springs in the distributor with... Lighter ones. Meaning less stiff?

 

Got any idea of what RPM full mechanical advance should be at? Note:mild engine-bit better than stock.

 

Yes

 

Back in the old days you could put a distributor on a machine made by "Sun" and it would tell you exactly what the advance curve would look like. I don't have access to one of those antiques and so I can not tell you exact numbers.

But everyone who has made this modification has been pleased with the results.

Scott

 

I did the recurve a couple of days ago. Response is better-but w/the crap carb I went conservative and used what I would call MEDIUM springs. (Looser than stock-but by NO means LIGHT) Are LIGHT springs the best period, or should 1 LIGHT and 1 MEDIUM be used? I'm familiar w/ HEI spring kits and what they use for light,medium, etc. Can you compare w/ these springs?

 

Mountainrich, would you mind taking pictures and measurements of the springs so I know what to look for?

I assume the distributor won't work without the springs and I need to drive to the hardware store..

cheers

 

It would work without the springs... poorly.

I always suggest that you source a junkyard distributor for this modification, this reduces the "I gotta get it runnin' again" pressure.

Scott

 

I've not really had too much luck finding a scrappy one so far.

Just out of curiosity, aren't there any dizzys from other engines with more aggressive ignition curves that could just be dropped in to the 1500?

 

No

 

anyone interested in a recurved distributor for an 80-83 civic? These are easy to recurve but the availability is scarce.